Download This: Borderline by Tame Impala

This
week, we are taking a listen to Tame Impala’s latest single, “Borderline.” The
band has been straying from their original psych-rock sound recently, and
flirting with a less colorful, bouncier pop-sound in this soft-rock spin on big
city life in Los Angeles.

Kevin
Parker, the lead singer, guitarist and producer of the Aussi band seems to be
changing with the times, and taking his music with it. As the psych-rock phase
of music begins to transition into something less like a journey through outer
space, and more like a Hollywood version of The 1975.

The
lyrics speak about life in the racing streets of L.A., and Parker’s honest
struggle to find himself in the Hollywood crowd. Like most Tame Impala songs,
it is a conversational piece, where Parker asks questions that help guide his
own thoughts through the process of answering these deep rooted questions: “Has
it been long enough?/Will I be known and loved?”

The
music itself feels held back, as if Parker is as unsure of his own sound as he
is of the world around him. Whether purposeful or not, the impression he gives
is one of uncertainty, and ambiguity.

Whether the band’s long time followers are
ready for it or not, Tame Impala’s sound is changing. Maybe this song is
Parker’s personal reflection of this budding change, as he navigates his way in
the world through a musical lense.